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Make this with your kids for Mother's Day

Asa Christiana, editor, Fine Woodworking magazine

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The old version is still nice when loaded with gardening tools.

Kids love doing layout. Print out the new plan, have your child cut out the curved profile, and then he or she can lay it right on the wood to mark the cuts.

My daughter loves the bandsaw. The cutting action is smooth, and she is very careful to keep her hands away from the blade. I'm always ready to jump in, of course, but so far I've never had to.

She wobbled a bit, but Lucy drilled the clearance holes...

...and drove all the screws. A 12V or smaller drill would have been better than my Milwaukee 14.4, though.

The old version is still nice when loaded with gardening tools.

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Last year I posted this garden tote as a nice Christmas present to make with your kids for Mom (or Dad or Grandma or whomever). With Mother's Day approaching I thought I would update the design. Actually I went to the best designer in our offices (FWW's art director, Mike Pekovich), and he came through as usual. It still can be made with simple 1x6 decking boards (cedar is best), and just as easily.   

The nice thing about decking boards is that the corners are already rounded, and they are available at home centers, hardware stores, and lumberyards. By the way, 1x6 deck boards measure 5-1/2 in. wide. You'll also need a thick dowel for the handle. 

The pictures are of my daughter, Lucy, building the old version, but I've included a plan here for the new-and-improved tote. Check it out. The main difference is that there are the few simple curves we added. Also, the holes for the handle go only partway through, hiding its ends, though you could drill all the way through and it would still look great. 

Your kids (above the age of 8, maybe) can still handle all the cuts, with supervision. A jigsaw (with the pieces clamped down firmly) or bandsaw are two relatively safe ways to make the cuts. A handsaw can also handle the straight cuts with a coping saw making the curved ones. With Lucy, I cut the pieces to length on the chopsaw and then let her take it from there.

The sides and bottom are attached with rust-resistant decking screws. Make it easier on your kid and yourself by drilling clearance holes in the top board and pilot holes in the board below.

Fill it with new gloves and tools, and you'll make a gardener very happy.

CLICK HERE to download the free woodworking plan to make this garden tote.

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Comments (19)

macmillan writes: Thanks for the great idea! I showed this to my 9 year old daughter, and we spent a day working together to make one for her Mom (my ex) for Mother's Day. I couldn't print the plan out actual size, so we drew our own. This was her first time actually working in the shop, and we had a blast. It is one of life's greatest joys to watch a child discover what they are capable of, and she is so excited to give it to her Mom tomorrow. Thanks again, Daniel
Posted: 10:17 pm on May 9th

Ingenet writes: Asa. Nice article, beautiful daughter, Great project to teach the kids how is the machines work and teach them how to use safety equipment like HEARING, finger protection and safety glasses.

Ear protection I do not can see.
Congratulation.
Posted: 6:21 am on May 4th

GEide writes: Fantastic Mayor Glen, when you're done please post pictures of them in our gallery: http://finewoodworking.taunton.com/gallery

Also, let me know you want to blog about it or post pictures about the process in the Woodworking Life blog. email fw-web@taunton.com. We're always looking for new content! Gina
Posted: 1:21 pm on May 3rd

MayorGlen writes: It's raining here today and should continue tomorrow. So my kids and I are going to build a few of these tomorrow. We'll probably make a day of it.

Thanks for the TIMELY article.


Posted: 11:33 pm on May 1st

AsaC writes: Good comments about safety. I've had a couple of e-mails, too. For starters, this is my daughter, so you can be sure I considered her safety.
I'll take the questions one at a time:
1. Blade exposure. My opinion is that this is not a big safety issue. I lower the guides when blade flex is a particular problem, which wasn't the case here. The safety issue is a tradeoff, to me. Lower guides might keep fingers away from the blade, but they also obscure the sightline, making it hard to see the blade at all, maybe tempting fingers closer than an exposed blade would.
2. Long sleeves. Good general safety rule. In retrospect, I should have had her roll them up. But again, in this case, I just didn't see the hazard. Her fingers would be in danger long before her sleeves got close to the blade.
3. Earmuffs. Seriously? On a 14-in. bandsaw cutting cedar. No.
4. Safety glasses. She does have glasses on, which will stop the stray particle from hitting the eye. But again, consider the context. I hear the same thing about drill presses. Those tools just don't throw material faceward, and not rapidly either, in my experience. Normal glasses are fine for these tools, at least for me. The safety police will say that a particle can hit the cheek and glance upward into the eye. I've never had that happen on a bandsaw or drill press. That's just not what they do.

Remember that my safety approach does not have to be yours. But also remember that some safety rules were made for worst-case industrial situations, with unskilled, fatigued, distracted workers working all day poorly set-up machines, without close supervision.
Posted: 9:49 am on April 30th

Brough writes: Why would anyone let so much blade exposure occur on a band saw, especially with a small child?
Posted: 8:31 pm on April 29th

billwig writes: A possible design change for future versions---instead of attaching the handle to the top of the two end pieces, drill a hole for the handle near the top of each end (leave 3/4" to 1" of wood above the hole), thus making the handle-to-box connection stronger and more secure. Looks better too, I think.
Posted: 7:54 pm on April 29th

SawdustShoppe writes: Reply to Ralphbarkers comment

I agree, yet disagree. One thing to keep in mind is it's a kid’s project. The K.I.S.S. rule applies here more than ever. (K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple, Stupid)

The Introduction to woodworking for kids should be in such a way that they learn the basics but not all at once. I let my daughter design and build a variety of projects that were flawed with mistakes, some even ended up in the fireplace. (Sort of a fun way to distract discouragement). But like the Art class ashtray-paperweight-paperclip-holder every parent has been gifted with from their aspiring 4th grade sculptor, it’s the love in the work that obscures the flaws. My Father’s Day gift happens to be a volcano shaped pencil holder that only holds one pencil, and I LOVE IT.

There are several projects my daughter is embarrassed to see at Grandmas house. One in particular is a jewelry box with a mismatched top, a not so square base and hinges that bind. Why so embarrassed? Because she now sees the various flaws.

The best part about it is now when she looks at it, she knows what she did wrong, how she should've done it, and what she could do better. "I Can do so much better than that now" (in her words). But Grandma loves it and uses it.

If we don't learn from our mistakes there's nothing to improve upon.

To a woodworker, the tote has design flaws. But to a Mom, it's the most wonderful gift ever (next to the paperweight).

Brad

Posted: 1:20 pm on April 29th

Lawrie writes: I am a woodworker today because I was fascinated as I watched my dad do this stuff when I was a kid. We didn't live together after I was 10, so I started watching other people doing their work, and it always surprises me how I have some dim recollection of how to do some of these things.

I think one of the best parts about my shop, though, is helping a youngster learn how to make something--from their pinewood derby car to the invention from the scrap box.

My father did not, however, teach me safety. I had to learn it from trips to the hospital to have stuff removed from my eye, from lost hearing as a mechanic, and from a guy named Ian who threw a box of latex gloves at me to get me to wear them to keep chemicals out of my skin.

So I was bummed out to not see any ear plugs on this young lady, and I too was horrified looking at the long sleeves she's wearing (something "SawdustShoppe" pointed out).

This young lady is learning something wonderful and I love it. But please teach her the real essentials so she can keep loving it.

Lawrie
Posted: 12:11 pm on April 29th

RalphBarker writes: It's great to get the kids involved in woodworking, and this is a simple-enough project to ensure their success. Others have commented on safety issues.

The design of the tote, however, might prompt additional gifts of a gym membership and steel-toed boots. The sides of the tote are heavier than they need to be, requiring Mom to pump more wood than she needs to, and the handle would be better placed inside a hole drilled in the end panels. As-is, supporting the weight of the tote and contents depends on the fasteners in the end grain of the end panels.
Posted: 11:25 am on April 29th

cannonball17 writes: Glad to see projects for the young ones, but safety it still the first thing to be taught "BEFORE" using power tools and long sleeves and jewlry are a no-no while working with power tools.
A great project for the kids.
jb
Posted: 10:14 am on April 29th

SawdustShoppe writes: Asa,

What a wonderful job Lucy did on the Tote. I'm certain Mom will find it a rather handy helper with her tasks. Good job Lucy. "Girls Rock".

I would like to see more articles on Kids in the work shop, But with an emphasis on Safety. My Daughter started using and building projects in my shop at age 8. She's now 12 and is very well skilled on a variety of my larger tools and equipment.

Safety should be the priority. "Dress for the Job": Long sleeves, long hair and loose clothing can get caught or snagged on just about anything. No jewelry like rings and bracelets. Even hats and aprons work well to hold back clothing and to keep hair out of the eyes. Along with the obvious hearing and eye protection.

I practice what I preach: You can follow this link to see her in action and dress for the job. She's on page 2 mid ways down.

http://www.dewalt.com/us/top17/finalists.aspx?projectID=80


Thanks

Brad McFarland

Posted: 8:15 am on April 29th

ozarkmike writes: HI Asa ;; i also wanted to say what a pleasure it is to see your daughter in the shop with you .. I also worked with my girl many times now shes moved on to larger projects .. (remodeling houses) .. always good to see a dad and daughter working together ..
Posted: 6:55 am on April 29th

ozarkmike writes: This is a great idea .. my kids are grown and gone .so i;ll make one for the wife .. thanks for the idea .. happy mothers day
Posted: 6:48 am on April 29th

AllanB48 writes: I can see the pictures perfectly without logging in ...?
Posted: 6:43 am on April 29th

Kibler writes: Great project to teach your kids to find their way around in the shop. I believe we should also teach them how to use safety equipment like hearing protection and safety glasses. Let alone the loose sleeves waiting to get caught in te saw.
Posted: 3:51 pm on April 28th

GEide writes: Hi Joe,

I'm so sorry to hear about your trouble. It's weird, when I log out, I can still see the pictures. Is anyone else experincing this sort of trouble?

Thanks, Gina
FineWoodworking.com
Posted: 1:48 pm on April 28th

Little_Joe writes: When the document first came up (without logging in) it would NOT display the individual pictures when they were 'clicked'... it drove me out of my mind... I was furious as to how such mistakes could get by the simplest form of testing!

I was SO MAD, I was going to comment on the subject to let you know about it.

I find out I have to Login to send a Comment... so I do.

NOW, the pictures WORK when clicked!

May I suggest that you do one of TWO things?
1. Instead of NOT displaying the pictures when clicked, display "Sorry, you must Login in order to see the pictures".

or

2. Just display the pictures when they are 'clicked'.

It is NOT GOOD to continue they way it is!

Thank you,
Joe
Posted: 1:26 pm on April 28th

Tom writes: I recently made one of these with my son, Ryan. We had a great time doing it.
Posted: 10:00 am on December 16th

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